Looking after geriatric pets in sh elters and getting them ...

Seniors and Shelters:

Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

October 16, 2011

Seniors and Shelters:

Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Susan Krebsbach, DVM

Creature Counseling

Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Website:

Agenda

? Definition of a senior pet

? Special

S i l considerations

id ti

for

f seniors

i

? Addressing special considerations in a shelter

? Adoption of senior pets

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Definition of a Senior Pet

? Describes the aging and older pet

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Creature Counseling

Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Page 1

Seniors and Shelters:

Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

October 16, 2011

Definition of a Senior Pet

? Number of years considered to be ¡°senior¡± may vary

? Species

? Breed

? Typical

T i l ages considered

id d senior

i

? Dogs ? 6 ¨C 7 years

? Cats ? 7 ¨C 11 years

? Last 25% of the predicted life span for species and breed

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Special considerations

? Physical changes

? Behavioral changes

g

? Changing nutritional needs

? Decreased activity

? Environment/Consistency

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Special Considerations

Physical Changes

? General ¡°slowing down¡±

? Ability to respond to infection is

reduced

? Healing process takes longer

? Slower metabolisms and producing

less hormones

? Increasing intolerance to heat and

cold

? More consideration about

temperature exposure

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Creature Counseling

Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Page 2

Seniors and Shelters:

Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

October 16, 2011

Special Considerations

Physical Changes

? Sensory changes

? Sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell dull

? Slower response to external stimuli

? Often a slow, progressive process

? May even escape notice

? Best remedy ? Keep pet active!

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Special Considerations

Physical Changes

? Pain assessment

? The ¡°fourth vital sign¡±

? Types:

? Acute

? Chronic

? Pain management

? Identify

? Prevent

? Minimize

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Special Considerations

Physical Changes

?

Signs of a Problem:

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

Sustained, significant increase in water consumption or urination

Sudden weight loss or gain

Significant decrease in appetite or failure to eat for more than two days

Significant increase in appetite

Repeated vomiting

Diarrhea lasting over three days

Difficulty in passing stool or urine

g in housebreakingg

Change

Lameness lasting more than five days or lameness in more than one leg

Noticeable decrease in vision

Open sores or scabs on the skin that persist for more than one week

Foul mouth odor or drooling that lasts more than two days

Increasing size of the abdomen

Increasing inactivity or amount of time spent sleeping

Hair loss, especially if accompanied by scratching or if in specific areas (as opposed to generalized)

Excessive panting

Inability to chew dry food

Blood in stool or urine

Sudden collapse or bout of weakness

A seizure (convulsion)

Persistent coughing or gagging

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Creature Counseling

Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Page 3

Seniors and Shelters:

Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

October 16, 2011

Special Considerations

Physical Changes

? Common problem ? Inappropriate elimination

? Kidneys one of the most common organ systems to wear out

? Not able to hold urine as long

? May be indicative of disease

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Special Considerations

Behavioral Changes

? May confront age-related cognitive and behavior changes

? Most are subtle

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Special Considerations

Behavioral Changes

? May include problems with:

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

Orientation

Social interaction

Activities and exercise

G

Grooming

i

Housetraining

Sleeping

Eating

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Creature Counseling

Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Page 4

Seniors and Shelters:

Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

October 16, 2011

Special Considerations

Behavioral Changes

? May be medical problems that mask themselves as

behavioral problems

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Special Considerations

Changing Nutritional Needs

? Specially formulated food

designed with older bodies in

mind

? Help with weight control

? Reduce consumption of

nutrients that are risk factors

for the development of

diseases

? Adjust for organ- or agerelated changes

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Special Considerations

Decreased Activity

? Causes bodies to deteriorate much more quickly

? Exercise ? Preventative geriatric care

Seniors and Shelters: Looking after geriatric pets in shelters and getting them adopted

Creature Counseling Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Creature Counseling

Veterinary Animal Behavior Consulting Services

Page 5

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